Sinking Feeling: Nancy Lopez, wearing the jersey of Atlanta
catcher Javy Lopez, threw out the first ball before an April 22
Braves-Diamondbacks game. But Hall of Famer N. Lopez, who had
warmed up at home with husband Ray Knight, didn't have her good
stuff last week. The defending champ missed the cut at the
Chick-fil-A, which Liselotte Neumann won, and bounced her
ceremonial pitch. "Tom Glavine told me to hold it across the
seams," she said. "I guess I threw a sinker."
Kenny (right) introduced Colbert to weights and cardiovascular work.
(Jacqueline Duvoisin)
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Old Dog, New Geriatrics: When Kyle Kenny became Jim Colbert's
personal trainer in 1994, "I introduced him to weights and
cardiovascular work," says Kenny (above, passing a medicine ball
to Colbert). "At first, other players laughed at us. Then we won
the money title, and the laughing stopped." Kenny credits
weightlifting, running, and flexibility exercises ("particularly
for the back and shoulders, which support the backswing") for
his client's recent triumphs and says Colbert's fitness helped
him weather a 1997 bout with prostate cancer. At last week's Las
Vegas Senior Classic, Colbert tied for seventh, nine strokes
behind winner Hale Irwin. "Jim is living proof that aging
golfers are not doomed to get flabby and fall apart," Kenny says.
Kid Stuff: "A course within a course," designer Jack Ridge calls
his new kiddie 18, which is being built into Bob O Link Golf
Course in Lawrenceburg, Ky. Slated to open on Father's Day, the
course features far-forward tee boxes as well as greens with one
hole for grown-ups and another, complete with mini-flagstick,
for youngsters. All that's missing is a girl in a golf cart
selling bubblegum cigars.
Killer Kid Stuff: Who has the best nickname on the European
tour? It has to be Stephen Allan, the Babyfaced Assassin.
The Dane in Spain: With a torrid final-round 66, Denmark's
Thomas Bjorn won last week's Spanish Open. Bjorn, the only Ryder
Cupper snubbed by the Masters committee, watched the Masters on
TV. "Everything was going down the drain," says the formerly
melancholy Dane, who also endured a bitter breakup with his
girlfriend. He now has two wins this year and a new girlfriend,
a Swedish lawyer.
Mixed Blessing: The National Golf Foundation reports that 26.5
million Americans played golf in 1997, a 7% increase over '96,
while rounds played jumped 15% to 547 million. Reacting with
alarm, U.S. News & World Report offered tips for beginners,
including, "If a group of faster players is bumping against you,
invite them to play through." Should faster players begin
slam-dancing or hipchecking, call a marshal.
Issue date: May 4, 1998
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